DEVOTIONAL
ing hours when I enter into secret prayer before my God in heaven, I find pride lingering in the very center of my heart. There are even moments during those prayers when tears stream down my cheeks as I’m examining my own life, just to look back later during my evening devotions to see that even those tears were mingled with pride. This is definitely something that every Christian, who has come to faith in Jesus Christ through repentance, must contend with on a daily basis. Pride, to simply put it, is elevating oneself above the word of God, seeking to accomplish the task for our own pleasures, rather than for the glory of God.
David was a man after God’s own heart, but the Bible discloses the very secret struggles of his life openly and publicly for us to understand. For it is written, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; So that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” Scripture tells us everything that has been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was written down for our instruction so that we may learn and not repeat the same sinful acts. But, as we look at David’s life let us not allow his faults and failures to characterize his life. It is true that David is known for adultery and murder, but the Bible also gives us a window into David’s secret prayer life. Pride was at the center of David’s sin, but repentance and remorse was at the center of his heart and it was there that he cried aloud, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.”
In the verse above David reflects upon his life and he is mesmerized by the grace the Lord has bestowed upon him for many years. When David sat down before the Lord to examine himself, he said from his heart, “Who am I, oh Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far?” There’s one thing that King David had learned through his many faults and failures in this lifetime. And that is, that God works to purpose His will in the lives of those whom He has called in spite of human inabilities. This brought him to a deeper understanding of God’s unfathomable love and removed all areas of pride concerning his salvation. May this prayer echo in the life of every Christian throughout all eternity. For by God’s grace and only His grace we have been made His children. We’ve done nothing in and of ourselves to deserve anything, but to receive His divine retribution. The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.